Canopy-top for vehicles.



0. E. WALTERS. CANOPY TOP FOR VEHICLES.

APPLIQATION FILED MAR. 24, 1910.

Patented July 5; 1910.

Inn/enter ls PETERS co. WASHINGTON, n: c.

ATNT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. WALTERS, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR 'IO MICHIGAN STEELBOAT COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

CANOPY-TOP FOR VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 24, 1910.

disengageable from their separate supports, and are in engagement witheach other when the top is collapsed. It is usual to provide an inclinedbrace rod attached to the front bow for supporting theforwardly-projecting hood of the canopy, and when the top is collapsedthis rod is disengaged from its normal bearing on the bow and isreengaged with a lower bearing, which permit-s of folding the rod inparallelism with the bow. Thus, where the bows have straight sides theymay all be arranged in exact alinement with each other and with thebrace rod, but where the bows are flared, the top being of greater widththan the supporting base, the brace rod will not aline with the bows.This is for the reason that the bracerod is straight, while the bows arecurved inward at their lower ends, and when the brace is engaged withthe bearing near the lower end of the bow it will stand obliquely inrelation to the other members. This is objectionable, and prevents theengagement of the bows with parallel guide bearings, as is possiblewhere all of the members are in eX- act alinement.

My invention is designed to overcome this objection, and to this end theinvention consists in the construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawingsFi ure 1 is a perspective view of the bows and braceassembled in 1 position for storing; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of thefront bow and brace in normal relation where the top is in use; Fig. 3is a plan view of the parts arranged as in Fig. l; and Fig. 4 is a crosssection showing the members in engagement with the guide frame orholder. I A is the bow for the forward seat, and B the bow for the rearseat of the vehicle, the l Serial No. 551,351.

latter being provided with Patented July 5, 1910.

a hinged bow C,

which normally inclines rearward.

D is a brace for supporting the forwardlyprojecting hood which, when thecanopy is extended, engages a bearing E upon the bow A. This bearing isabove the lower end of the the flared portion thereof.

a considerable distance bow and is upon I11 the collapsed position ofthe parts, as

shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4,

the bow A is arranged in alinement with the bow B, with its pintle Fengaging a socket G in the latter bow. The brace D also has its pintle Hdisengaged from the bearing E, so as to permit the folding inparallelism. Inasmuch, however, as the bows curved inward at their low Aand B are flared and er ends, the brace D cannot aline therewith, and ifthe bearing for attaching the lapsed position were at th brace to thebow in cole usual point the brace would lie obliquely in relation to thebows, as before stated.

This I have avoided by providing an outwardly-extending arm I on themember A,

having an apertured bearing J at its outward end for engagement with thepintle II, this bearing being alined with the bearing portion of thebows and E. Thus the upper the brace lie in the same vertical plane,and, as shown in Fig. 4, may be arranged within the parallel guides orholder K on the vertical frame.

What I claim as my invention is: 1. In a canopy top for vehicles, thecombination with a flaring bow, of an inclined brace 11% on the flaring0 set bearlng on member detachably engaging the bearportion of the bow,and an the lower portion of the bow for engagement with said brace incollapsed position.

2. In a canopy top for vehicles, the combination with a bow having itslower end curved inward, of

an inclined brace detachably engaging a bearing on said bow above thecurved portion thereof tending laterally from the portion of the bowhaving for engagement with the I) with the upper bearing.

, and an arm eX- inwardly curved a second bearing race in alinement 3.In a canopy top for vehicles, the combination with a plurality of flaredbows for engagement with separated supports and having a detachableengagement with each other, of a brace detachably engaging a of saidbrace respectively upon the portion above the curve and at the outwardend of said laterally-projecting arm, said bearings being alined witheach other.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses:

NELLIE KINsELLA, WV. J. BELKNAP.

bearing on one of said bows in the flared portion thereof, and a lateralprojection on the lower or contracted portion of said bow having asecond bearing for said brace in alinement with said upper bearing.

4. In a canopy top for vehicles, the combination with a bow having aninwardlycurved lower supporting end, of an arm pr0- jecting laterallyand outwardly from the lower end of said bow and inclined brace, andbearings for the detachable engagement

